Kalki Koechlin, a talented actress, was born to French parents in a small village in Pondicherry, India. Her parents, who had arrived in India as hippies in the 1970s, fell deeply in love with the country and its culture, and eventually settled there. They were devotees of Sri Aurobindo, a renowned Indian philosopher and yogi.
Kalki's early life was marked by a passion for the arts, and she spent her formative years studying in Ooty, a picturesque hill station in southern India. However, her parents insisted that she attend university, and she eventually enrolled at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she pursued a degree in drama and theatre.
During her two-year stint at the university, Kalki worked with a renowned theatre company called Theatre of Relativity, performing in a range of plays, including David Hare's "The Blue Room," Marivaux's "The Dispute," and a devised play called "The Rise of the Wild Hunt." Her performances earned her critical acclaim and a reputation as a talented young actress.
After completing her studies, Kalki decided to return to India and pursue a career in cinema. She began by working as a model, appearing in various television commercials, before being shortlisted for the role of Chandramukhi (Chanda) in the critically acclaimed film Dev.D (2009). To prepare for the role, Kalki learned Hindi, a language she was not familiar with, and was apprehensive about how people would react to her performance.
Kalki's breakthrough role in Dev.D (2009) was followed by a string of critically acclaimed performances in films such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Shanghai (2012). She also continued to work in theatre, winning The Hindu's 2009 MetroPlus Playwright Award, along with Prashant Prakash, for their co-authored play "Skeleton Woman." Additionally, she acted in the play "Hair" directed by Ajay Krishnan.
Throughout her career, Kalki has demonstrated her versatility as an actress, effortlessly transitioning between different genres and mediums. Her talent, coupled with her dedication to her craft, has earned her a reputation as one of the most promising young actresses in Indian cinema.
